Stock quotation projection machine



May 21, 1935. w. DECKER STOCK QUOTATION PROJECTION MACHINE AND IETHOD FORFEEDING TAPE THERETHROUGH s Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 25, 1928 INVENTQR ATTORNEY Y 1935- O .J. w. DECKER Re. 19,572

STOCK QUOTATION PROJECTION IACHINE AND IIETHOD FOR FEEDING TAPE THBRETHROUGH Original Filed Jan. 25. 1928 :s Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissued May 21, 1935 PATENT OFFICE STOCK QUOTATION PROJECTION MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING TAPE THERETHROUGH James W. Decker, New York, N. 1.

Original No. 1,903,806, dated April 18, 1933, Serial No. 249,383, January 25, 1928. Renewed Febrnary 16, 1932. Application for reissue July 1, 1933, Serial No. $78.69?

20 Claims. (CI. 8824) This invention relates in general to projecting.

machines and more especially to machines for projecting news items such as stock quotations on ticker tape and the like and the method for feed- 5 ing tape through such projecting machines.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved construction which makes possible the use of a single mirror for projecting the images on a vertical screen above the projecting machine, in which construction the ticker tape is free to be inspected as it leaves the ticker machine and before it passes to the projecting machine.

Among the objects of the present invention it is also aimed to provide an improved mechanism for dissipating the vibrations transmitted to the tape by the ticker so that the tape may pass the projecting lens in a comparatively uniform even feed.

The present invention also aims to provide an improved construction for controlling the operation of the motor for driving the tape drawing or pulling means contemplating an electric make and break which is spaced a considerable distance from the tape, which .has no open spark, and

which will produce a dwell both before making contact and before breaking contact in order to protect the tape from the jar incident to the suddenstopping and starting of the movement of the tape.

The present invention also aims to provide an improved mechanism for controlling the rewind action of the tape after it is discharged from the projecting mechanism whereby the rewind reel will be effectively anchored against actuation as soon as the ticker has stopped sufficiently long to prevent the rewind reel to take up the slack in the tape adjacent to the rewind reel.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a frontelevation partly broken away or a device equipped according to thepresent ining for the motor and controlling switch;

onto the vertical screen ll.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the rewind mechanism; and

8 is a plan of the rewind mechanism shown I in Fig. 7.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a frame I having a lower platform 2 and an upper platform 3. n the platform 3 there is supported the lamp housing I containing the lamp 5 and lens 6 through which the rays fromthe lamp 5 pass to the inclined mirror l and by which mirror-l the light rays are deflected upward through a light aperture across which the tape T passes.

The tape T is preferably composed of a transparent material or a translucent material so that light may readily pass through such tape and project images of the characters on the tape to the projecting lens formed in the housing 8 from which the images are projected onto the mirror 8 in the frame It and deflected by such mirror 9 porting the mirror 9 and screen ll, may be supported above the projecting mechanism in any usual way. In the present instance, the brackets I! are provided which are secured to the wall II- on which the frame Ill rests.

On the platform 3 adjacent to the lamp housing 4, there is also provided a supporting member I! for supporting the ticker generally denoted by the reference character 15, which is provided with the feeding means consisting of the feed rollers l8 and II which cooperate with the printing wheel II in the usual way. The tape T passes from the supply reel 19, see Fig. l, to the feeding means I, I1, and then past the printing means It. The reel I9 is supported on the shaft III extending from the bracket 2| which is connected to the supporting frame II. From the printing mechanism It, the tape passes over the finger 22 to the angle plate 23 which has guiding projections 24, 25, extending upwardly, between which the tape passes to the curved portion 26 and then between the downwardly extending guiding projections 21, 28 to and along the lowergface of the frame 29 to the idler 30, and over the idler ill down to the feed roller-3| beneath the platform 3 to the rewind reel 32.

In order to dissipate the vibrations transmitted to the tape T by the ticker II due to the intermittent feeding action of the feedmeans I6, I I, and

printing mechanism ll, there is provided a friction creating device, known in the projecting machine trade as an ironing out device which consists of the lever '33 extending through the yoke 84 and'adjustably connected thereto by the screw The frame Ill, supas. This yoke u is pivotally connected to the bracket 36 which is secured to the lower face of the plate 31 extending from the upper end of the lamp housing 4 adjacent to the ticker l5.

One end of the lever 33 is preferably provided with a tape engaging device 36, and the other end extends through a weight 39 which is connected to the lever 33 preferably by means of a screw 46. By means of the screws 35 and 46, both the length of the arms of the lever 33 may be adjusted and the position of the weight 35 adjusted in order to obtain the degree of pressure desired on the tape T. The tape engaging device 36, as shown in Fig. 3, preferably engages the tape T to press it against the lower face of the frame 29 before the tape passes to the light aperture 4| in the frame 25.

The frame 2!, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with the light aperture 4|, the tape passing across such light aperture 4| to permit the light rays deflected by the mirror I to pass through the tape to the projecting lens in the housing I. The frame 29,.as shown in Fig. 3, is preferably hinged at 42 to the top of the angle box and is adapted to fold down over the path of movement of the tape T to be engaged by the projection 43 formed at the upper end of the arm 44 secured to the front faceofthe anglebox,seeFigs. 1and2.

n the platform 2 there is supported the motor 45 which isoperatively connected to actuate the drawing roller 3| and the rewind reel 32. The tape pulling roller 3| and rewind reel 32 are adapted to be stopped and started according to the operation of the ticker l5. In order so to control the operation of the tape pulling roller 3| and rewind reel 32, the motor 45 is operatively connected to a mercury switch 46 which in turn is operatively connected bymeans of the connecting link 41 with the lever 46 which is pivotally connected at 4! to the side of the angle box adiacent to the ticker l5. The lever 46 is preferably provided with a tape engaging sheave 56 which rests on the upper surface of the tape T to deflect the tape T to form a loop or bend before the tape T engages the bent plate 23. The mercury switch 46 is supported on a plate which is pivotally mounted on the projections 52, 53.

The connecting link 41 has an extended slot 53 at its lower end through which extends the pin 54 on the plate 5| and a slot 93 to receive the pin li'of the lever 46. The pin 54 is'so positioned relative to the pivotal connection of the plate 5| with the projections, 52, 52, that the center of gravity of the plate 5| with its appurtenant parts is disposed between the projections 52 and the pin 54 so that the plate 5| will, due, to gravity, tend to exercise a downward pull on the connecting link 41 when the end of the'plate containing the pin 54 is raised by the connecting link 41. The center of'gravity of the plate 5| relative to the projections 53, 62, is also such that when the link 41 does not exercise-an upward pull on the plate 5|, the end of theplate containing the pin 54 will descend to its lowest point determined by the face 55 of the member 56.

The mercury in the tube 51 of the mercury switch 46 relative to its contacts is 50. disposed that the contact will be broken when the end 56 of the tube 61 is raised and that contact will be made when the end 56 is lowered. The mercury switch 46 is connected to the resistance 53 by means of the conductor 65, which resistance 55 by means of the conductor 6| is connected to the main lead 62 leading to the outlet plug 63. The other end of the switch 46 is connected by'the conductor 64 to the conductor 66 of the motor 45.

on the shaft I3, which is provided with a worm wheel 15 is mounted on the shaft 16, which shaft '14 in mesh with the worm wheel 15, which worm 16 has mounted thereon the sheaves Ti and l6.

The sheave TI is connected by means of the belt I! to the sheave 85 on the shaft 6| journaled in the upper end of the bracket 82. On the shaft II is mounted the tape pulling roller 3|. In order to frictionally engage the tape T with the tape' pulling roller 3|, the idler 63'is journaled in the upper end of the arm 64 which is pivotally connected at 85 tothe bracket 62, which arm 64 has an extension 66 to receive an adjustable weight 61 whereby the pressure on the tape T or frictional engagement between the idler 83 and the tape pulling roller 3| can be properly adjusted.

The sheave I6 is connected by the spring belt 88 with the sheave 59 on the shaft 95, on which shaft 96 is mounted the reel 32.

From the foregoing, it will appear that when the ticker I5 is operating to form sufficient slack to permit the sheave 56 to depress, the tape T low enough to permit the connecting link 41 'in turn to permit the end 56 of the mercury switch 46 to be depressed, contact will be made to' permit the motor 45 to be actuated in turn to actuate the tape pulling roller 3| and reel 32. It will also appear that as soon as the ticker l5 pauses-suflicien-tly long to permit the tape pulling roller 3| to' cooperate with the ticker II to dissipate the slack in the tape T and thereby raise the lever 46, in turn to raise the connecting link 41, the end 56 of the switch '46 will be raised to break contact and thereby cause the motor 45 to be stopped.

In a period of five minutes the ticker 5 may be started and stopped a number of times, and as a result thereof the motor stopped and started a number of times. In order to protect the motor 45 from being overheated by the constant stopping and starting of the same, the resistance 59 will function to diminish the amperage suflicient to prevent such overheating.

It will also appear from the foregoing that du to the'slot 53 at the lower end of the connecting link 41, the motor 45 can by no possible chance he stopped simultaneously with the stopping of the This elongated slot 5: is also of value when starting the motor 45. Here, before the full.

acquire its full operating momentum. In this way, the slack in the tape T can never mount up,

it being assumed, of course, that the speed of the motor ll will be timed to synchronize substantially with the rate of feed provided by the feeding means I, ll.

The spring belt 88 is provided in order to compensate for the gradually increasing drawing action transmittedto the tape T, by the gradually increasing diameter of the rewind reel. It willbe noted thatithe uniform'feeding roller 3i, constituting the tape drawing roller, isinterposed between the projecting mechanism and the rewind reel I! so that the uneven drawing action, or gradually increasing drawing action, of the re wind reel 32, will not be transmitted to the tape T.

In some instances, it may be desirable to dispense with the electric make and break and to diminish the frictional engagement between the idler II and the roller 3i sufficient to permit slippage when the ticker i5 is stopped, without stopping the motor 45. In such case, however, it is desirable also to diminish the drawing tension produced by the rewind reel 32. This is very effectively done by providing a brake to anchor the rewind reel 32 against-rotation, at least sufficient to permit the spring belt 88 to slip relative to the sheave 89. To this end, the reel 32 is provided with a braking'drum 9| to be engaged by a brake shoe 9!, which is pivotally mounted on the arm '3 extending from the bracket 94 of the housing 06 of the worm wheel 15. The brake shoe .2 is provided with an arm 96 having a finger "to engage the tape T, as indicated in Fig. 7. ll l this instance, when the ticker l5 stops and the rewind reel 32 continues to wind up the tape T, it will take up the slack in the tape T between'the tape pulling roller 3i and the rewind reel 32 to raise the finger 91 and thereby cause the brake shoe '2 to be wedged against the braking hub 9 I.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construe-- tion and in the steps of the method without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type impressions on said ticker tape and having a feeding vmechanism .for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape after a printing impression, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a right angularly bent guide'fjor twisting the tape through a right angular pathof movement for inverting the tape and guiding the tape so inverted over said light aperture, a projecting lens above said light aperture for receiving images of the configurations on said tape, a deflector above said lens for receiving images from said lens, and a screen above said lens for receiving. images from said deflector.

2. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing configurations on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for discharging said tape in one dimotion, a projecting mechanism having a horiaontally disposed light aperture, an angular guide fortwisting the tape at an angle to the direction of discharge from said ticker and inverting the tape to pass while inverted over said light aperture. deflectingmeansabove said light aperture,

' a leni above said light aperture for receiving images from said tape and projecting 'them to said deflecting means, and a screen, said deflecting deflecting the images received to said screen .a. The combination with a tickerntape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing configurations on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a lamp housing to one side" of said ticker and having ahorizontally disposed light aperture, a lamp in said housing to the rear of said light aperture, a lower deflector in said lamp housing for receiving the light rays from said lamp and deflecting them upwardly through said light aperture, guides for guiding the tape from said ticker over said light aperture, a. screen above and forwardly of said light aperture, an upper deflector above said light aperture and to the rear of said screen, and projecting means for receiving images from the tape located across said light aperture and projecting them onto said upper deflector to deflect them forwardly onto said screen.

4. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type characters on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a guide disposed between said ticker and said light aperture conformed to invert the tape and pass it over said light aperture, the tape passing in part under said guide when being inverted, and a finger for pressing the part of the tape passingunder the guide upward against said guide to dissipate the vibrations transmitted thereto by said ticker.

5. The combination with a-ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type characters on said tape and having ,a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding imagainst said guide to dissipate the vibrations.

transmitted to the tape by said ticker.

6. Thecombination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type characters .on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a

' guide disposed between said ticker and said light aperture conformed to invert the tape and pass it over said light aperture, a bracketpivotally connected to said projecting mechanism, a finger adjustably connected to said bracket, and a weight adjustably connected to one end of said finger and causing the other end of 'said finger to press the tape into engagement 'with'said guide to dissipate the jump transmitted thereto by said ticker. i

7. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a project,- ing mechanism,- a drawing means cooperating withsaid feeding mechanism to draw the tape through said projecting" mechanism, an electric motor for driving said drawing means, a pivotally mounted, mercury switch. for controlling said electric motor, a lever having its free end resting on said tape, and a link connecting said lever with said mercury switch, said lever being actuated by said tape when said feeding mechanismcomes to rest in turn through said link to actuate said mercuryswitch to shut oil? the current to said motor.

a. The combination with a ticker tape, of a switch, said lever when actuated into raised position in turn actuating said mercury switch to shut oi! the current to said motor and being free to descend when said feeding mechanism 01)- erates to form slack in said tape in turn 'to actuate said mercury switch to make contact and thereby cause the motor to operate.

9. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printingv mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape after printing, a projecting mechanism, a drawing mechanism cooperating with the feeding mechanism to pass the tape. through said projecting mechanism, a lever having its free end adapted to rest on said tape and be raised when said tape becomes taut, an electric motor, a pivotally mounted mercury switch for controlling saidmotor, and a link having a pin and slot connection with said lever and having a pin and slot connection with said mercury switch, said lever when actuated into raised position in turn actuating said mercury switch to shut oil the current to said motor and being free to descend when-said feeding mechanism operates to form slack in said tape in turn .to actuate said mercury switch to make contact-and thereby cause the motor to operate;

10. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for'imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism, a tape drawing roller, a

-rewind reel, a motor, a belt connecting said drawing roller with said motor. and a belt connecting said rewind reel with said motor, said drawing roller cooperating 'with said feeding mechanism to pass the tape through said projecting mechanism, said rewind reel receiving the tape from said drawing roller, said drawing roller and rewind reel being free to slip relative to one another and to said motor.

11. The combinationwith a ticker tape, of a projecting mechanism, a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for feeding said tape to said projecting mechanism, a drawing roller, a

rewind reel, a motor, a spring belt connecting,

said drawing roller with said motor, a spring belt connecting said rewind reel with .said motor, a

brake drum on 'said rewind reel, and a pivotally mounted lever having a brake shoe at one end to cooperate with said brake drum and a finger at the other end to cooperate with said tape, said drawing roller receiving the tape from said projecting mechanism, said rewind reel receiving the tape from said drawing roller, said rewind" reel cooperating with saidfeeding'mechanism to take up the slack in said tape when said feeding mech-- anism comes to rest thereby actuating said finger in turn to wedge said brake shoe in engagementv with said brake drum to arrest said rewind reel.

12. The combination with a ticker tape having news items printed thereon facing upwardly, of a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a right angular guide for inverting the tape, tapedrawing means for drawing said tape across said light aperture while so inverted, a projecting lens disposed above said tape to receive images of the configurations on said tape, a deflector above said projecting lens to receive theimages from said lens, and a screen for receiving the images from said deflector.

13 The combination with a ticker tape having Y news tiems formed thereon .iacing upwardlyfof a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, an inverting guidefor invetting and guiding the tape to cross said light aperture while so inverted, a projecting lenadisposed above said tape to receive images of the configurations on said tape, a deflector above said projecting lens to receive the images from said lens, and a screen for receiving the images from said deflector;

14. The combination with a ticker tape having positive type impressions formed thereon facing upwardly, of a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a right angularly bent guide for inverting the tape and guiding the tape inverted toward said light aperture, a projecting lens above said light aperture for receiving images of the downwardly facing configurations on said tape,"a deflector above said lens for receiving images from said lens, and a screen above said lens for receiving images from said deflector.

15. The combination with a ticker tape having configurations formed thereon, "or a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, an angular guide for inverting the tape at an angle to its original path of movement to cross said light aperture while inverted, deflecting means above said light aperture, a lensabovesaid light aperture for receiving images from said tapeand projecting them to said deflecting means, and a screen, said deflecting means deflecting the images received to said screen.

I 16. The combination with a ticker tape having configurations formed thereon facing upwardly. of a lamp housing havinga horizontally disposed light aperture, a lamp in said housing to one side of said light aperture, a deflector in said lamp housing for receiving the light rays from said ,lamp and deflecting them upwardly through said light aperture, an inverting guide for inverting and guiding the tape to, cros said light aperture while so inverted, a screen, and projecting'meansabove said tape for receiving images from the tape while so inverted on said light aperture and projecting them onto said screen.

17. In a projection system wherein a charactar-bearing tape passes flatwise from ticker mechanism and with one surface facing upwardly,the method which comprises supporting said tape for horizontal movement through a projection field with said one surface facing downwardly, and controlling movement of said tape through said projection field in response to change in configuration oi a tape loop to said projection field.

bearing tape passes flatwise from ticker mechanism and with one surface facing upwardly, the

disposed'at the entrance 18. In a projection system wherein a character method which comprises supporting said tape for horizontal movement through a projection field with said one surface facing downwardly, and

' controlling movement of said tape through said projection field in response to deflections in the tape disposed at the entrance to said projection field.

19. The combination with a projection field, of a ticker tape having one surface facing upwardly when it is discharged from a ticker, an axial bend in the ticker tape at the entrance to said projection field, said one surface of said tape facing downwardly beyond said bend and when the tape passes through said projection field, a tape puller for pulling said tape horizontally through said projection field, and a control for said tape puller responsive to deflections in the tape before passing to said projection field.

20. The combination with a ticker tape, of a projection field, a ticker having a ticker mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for feeding said tape to said projection field, a tape puller for pulling the tape through said projection field including a take-up reel, a brake drum associated with said take-up reel, a pivotally mounted lever having a brake shoe at one end to cooperate with said brake drum, and a finger at the other end to cooperate with said tape, said rewind reel cooperating with said feeding mechanism to take up the slack in said tape when said feeding mechanism comes to rest thereby actuating said finger in turn to wedge said brake shoe into engagement with said brake 15 drum to arrest said rewind reel.

. JAMES W. DECKER. 

